Belvoir Castle

As a last minute stop we decided to pay the hefty fee of 10 pounds/person and visit Belvoir Castle. It turned out to be an amazing castle! It's not every day that the castles we tour are completely functioning/rentable/ family still living there kinda castles, and we've been to a few over the past 5 years. The gardens were also exquisite, with a lily pound, fountain, statues, and the occasional palm tree!

This is the Duke and Duchess of Rutland who live in the castle with their children

Robin Hood and Little John...

Nottingham Castle was a little disappointing at first, but after reading the history behind this plot of land I understood why there weren't 500 year old ruins to explore. Nottingham castle has been built and destroyed more times then I can remember and whats left exhibits a huge art collection. The gardens were beautiful and the rain held off just long enough to have fun playing around with the Robin Hood statue.

We're the kings of this castle and you're the dirty rascals

Serious, No foolin around Queen Michelle

View of Nottingham city from the backside of the castle.

Up close and personal. Maybe a little too personal?

How cute are Scott and Michelle in their matching jackets and Robin Hood hats?

Michelle and I ate Cotton Candy (Candy Floss)

While Scott and Dave goofed around on this lion statue

Grantham and the Isaac Newton Manor

Thanks to Scott and Michelle visiting us this August we were able to see lots of things in a short amount of time. Scott's favorite place was Woolsthorpe Manor. Isaac Newton was born in this house in 1642 and he made many of his most important discoveries about light and gravity here. You can still see the famous apple tree from which we freely tasted (yuck, gross, bitter, worst apples ever!) Unfortunately they were closed the day we visited but we were allowed to walk around the grounds and take pictures.Visiting on a CLOSED day has it's advantages,

NO PEOPLE!

The crossed bones are the Newton Family crest.

This was above the front door to the manor.

The outhouse, in the barn which I definitely took advantage to sit on, this is where great minds really do their best thinking, right?

Ava took one bite and tried to give it back. Hard, bitter, and just plain gross, but look how much Scott was able to pallet, guess he was looking to ingest inspiration.

Woody's Bad Words

We bought the movie TOY STORY last week and Ava has asked to watch it every day since. Of course I don't let her watch it every day but it is always her first choice. What's a mom to do when her daughter takes obsessions with different movies. Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, Tinkerbell, Toy Story, they all have had a fair share of Ava obsession. But just the other day I heard Ava yell "SHUT UP Jessie" I immediately asked her where she learned those words? She quickly told me "Toy Story" Sure enough Woody has a little issues with strong, negative words, I never thought about it before. Ava takes in all that she sees and hears and even Disney kid movies aren't perfect. I can't keep Ava locked up, never to hear a bad word or see a mean gesture. Movies tell stories and have morals, they teach what is right and good but also bad and mean. I need to be more active in Ava's movie watching. I need to explain when something is not right, or if the character is not making good choices.

Audley End House

Because of our newly purchased "English Heritage" cards, we get to see a lot more cool things for free. Audley End House is a beautiful mansion, it's origins start in the 1600's. It's had many owners and been refurbished, built-up and downsized many times. I love visiting old mansions as I day dream about wearing beautiful dresses, eating at banquet tables and dancing in the ballrooms. Like most places around here you couldn't take pictures of the inside main building but you could in the kitchen, laundry, stables, and extensive grounds/gardens. I did however take a picture of a picture so I would remember what the front foyer looked like.

Look at tiny Ava waving her arms

This is the back of the house

Beautiful door bell that actually worked. The lady pulled on it and after a short delay you could hear bells ringing from inside the house.

The Front Foyer

Laundry Press and Drying Room

The kitchen

The Gardens

Huge Red Wood

Crazy looking "Brain" bushes and 2 serious blokes